VeggieTales to Reach into More Theme Parks

The popular computer animated series VeggieTales is going to be gracing a number of new theme parks in the near future.

On Thursday, officials from Atlanta-based Herschend Family Entertainment (an operator with Dolly Parton in the Dolllywood Company) and Nashville-based Big Ideas, Inc., (the home company for VeggiTales) announced a new five-year agreement that includes future development of additional entertainment featuring the VeggieTales at all HFE properties.

Company heads say they expect the agreement to have a positive impact for people.

The HFE properties are the ideal place for our VeggieTales family to further our companys commitment to enhancing the spiritual and moral fabric of our society through creative media, said Terry Pefanis, chief operating officer of Big Idea, Inc., in a statement. We look forward to spreading our message of Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun with the millions of folks who visit their various parks.

Currently, the VeggieTales series is already featured in three of HFEs parks. The Dollywood family adventure park in Tennessee hosts VeggieTales LIVE as part of its summer-long KidsFest Celebration and includes a VeggieTales Sideshow Spin kids coaster in its Country Fair wing. The two lead characters of VeggieTales, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, will also make appearances at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta and at Celebration City in Branson, Mo.

The new deal will put the kids-focused theme into the remaining parks that HFE operates or partners. This includes 18 locations in 7 states.

The family-oriented values and virtues shared by both HFE and Big Idea make it possible for us to combine our creative efforts to produce even more wholesome entertainment with a positive message for our guests at each of our parks, explained Joel Manby, chief executive officer at HFE, in a statement.

VeggieTales is a popular children series that relates Judeo-Christian lessons through computer animated vegetables

A second feature film is currently in production for the characters, and is titled The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything  A VeggieTales Movie. Universal Pictures plans on releasing it this winter.

The series first feature film, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002), proved to be quit successful, bringing in $25 million in theater revenue.